Lindsay Lohan's brother Michael has been arrested for criminal impersonation in New York City.

Michael C. Lohan, Jr. stands accused of attempting to avoid paying for parking by using a fake placard, suggesting he works for the New York State Executive Branch, on his car.

The sign, placed on the windshield of the 27 year old's 2015 Audi, was spotted by a police officer outside Michael's Manhattan apartment building on Thursday (29Oct15). He was questioned about the notice, and after failing to prove he worked for the Executive Branch, he was taken into custody, reports Newsday.com.

He was arraigned in New York City Criminal Court on a third degree charge of criminal possession of a forged instrument and a second degree count of criminal impersonation, and subsequently released on his own recognisance.

Michael, Jr., who has yet to comment on the incident, is next due in court on 14 December (15).

It's not the first time Lindsay's little brother has hit headlines - he and his actress sister, who has also famously had numerous run-ins with the law, were slapped with a $60 million lawsuit last year (14) amid allegations they stole the idea for their shopping app Vigme.

Businessman Fima Potik accused the siblings of launching their program after previously working with him on a similar product called Spotted Friend, but the Lohans fought back, blasting him for defamation.

The case is due to go to trial later this year (15), but the plaintiff recently filed papers in Manhattan Supreme Court asking for the lawsuit to be dismissed. He claims he is struggling to keep up with the mounting attorneys' fees, but the Lohans believe his poverty plea is just an excuse to avoid embarrassment in court. They are appealing the motion as they want the judge to fine Potik for filing a "frivolous" lawsuit.

"He can't prove he had anything worth stealing," the actress' lawyer, Ravi Batra, told the New York Daily News in September (15).

The judge has yet to make a decision on Potik's dismissal request.